Deep in the Realm of Conscience
Deep in the Realm of Conscience (Chinese: 宮心計2: 深宮計; Cantonese Yale: Gūngsāmgai2: Sāmgūnggai) is a 2018 Hong Kong television series produced by TVB, Tengent Penguin Pictures and by producer Mui Siu-ching. It is the sequel to the 2009 drama Beyond the Realm of Conscience. The drama aired five days a week on the TVB network with 45-minute episodes starting May 21, 2018. It stars Nancy Wu, Annie Liu, Steven Ma, Kenneth Ma, Edwin Siu and Alice Chan in this reboot installment.[1]
| Deep in the Realm of Conscience | |
|---|---|
 Official poster | |
| Also known as | Beyond the Realm of Conscience 2 |
| 宮心計2:深宮計 | |
| Genre | Costume drama Period drama |
| Directed by | Zhu Li He Ben Fong |
| Starring | Nancy Wu Annie Liu Steven Ma Kenneth Ma Edwin Siu Alice Chan |
| Opening theme | 無悔無愧 by Nancy Wu |
| Ending theme | 明月與海 by Steven Ma & Nancy Wu 飛蛾撲火 by Hana Kuk |
| Composer | Alan Cheung |
| Country of origin | Hong Kong |
| Original languages | Cantonese Mandarin |
| No. of episodes | 36 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Mui Siu-ching |
| Producers | Mui Siu-ching Ben Fong |
| Production locations | Hong Kong Hengdian World Studios |
| Running time | 42 – 45 minutes |
| Production companies | TVB Tengent Penguin Pictures |
| Release | |
| Original network | TVB Jade Tencent Video |
| Original release | 21 May – 8 July 2018 |
| Related | |
Plot
During the reign of Emperor Shang of Tang, Prince of Ping (Steven Ma), and Princess Taiping (Alice Chan) stage a coup and execute the Empress Dowager Wei (Michelle Yim) who seized power within the court. They support Prince of Xiang (Lee Lung Kei) in reclaiming the throne. The palace appears to be returning to peace, but, the great waves are secretly approaching. Princess Taiping and Prince of Ping begin to be divided like fire and water. Within the inner palace, Prince of Ping 's first wife, Wong Zhen (Nancy Wu) and favorite concubine Zheng Chunxi (Chrissie Chau) compete with their beauty and cannot get along. Fortunately, within the deceitful inner palace, there is rare integrity. The heroic and righteous imperial guards, Yam Sam-Shu (Kenneth Ma) and Ho Lei (Edwin Siu), and the quiet and elegant department heads, Kam Yeuk-chin (Jacqueline Wong), and Yuen Yuet (Annie Liu), are four genuine people that decorate the gloomy and cold palace halls with a brush of romance and add a little mystery. Some people will give up everything for their most beloved, while others will give up their soul for power. A series of unsolved cases occur in the palace. Within the layers and layers of mystery is a long-kept secret. As it is slowly unraveled, it reveals humanity's deep thirst for power and wealth...
Synopsis
During the reign of Emperor Shang of Tang, Lee Longgei (Steven Ma) and his aunt Princess Taiping (Alice Chan) launch a coup that kills ambitious power seeking Empress Wai (Michelle Yim), restoring Prince of Xiang, Li Dan (Lee Lung Kei) to his throne! Beneath the palace's tranquil facade lurks an undercurrent of tension. At the Imperial Court, the rivalry between Lee Longgei & Princess Taiping intensifies into a power struggle! Within the palace, the jealousy and infighting between the head of imperial household bureau, Wong Jun (Nancy Wu), and the emperor's consort is running rampant! Some people act against their conscience for power, while others give up everything else for the sake of their loved ones! The genuine characters demonstrated by General of the Lungmo Guards, Yam Samshu (Kenneth Ma), Captain of the Lungmo Guards Ho Lei (Edwin Siu), palace maids Yuen Yuet (Annie Liu) & Kam Yeuk-chin (Jacqueline Wong) embellish the palace with a touch of romance.... Deep in the palace, layers upon layers of secrets are exposed.
Cast
Main cast
| Cast | Role | Description |
| Nancy Wu 胡定欣 | Wang Jun 王蓁 | Consort of Ping → Crown Princess → Empress Wang First wife of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Found out that she was pregnant in episode 13. In episode 15, she miscarries after an accident, waking up from a nightmare. In episode 18, she found out that she was infertile as a consequence of the miscarriage. Others see her as a good Empress (except for the fact she hasn't been able to have any children), when in reality she is cunning and manipulative, and will eliminate people who are a threat to her. For example, she intentionally disfigures her younger half-sister, leading to her suicide, in order to marry Li Longji. Banished to the "cold palace" by Emperor Xuanzong for life as punishment for her crimes in episode 36 Main Villain |
| Annie Liu 劉心悠 | Yuen Yuet 元玥 | Palace Maid → 玲瓏公主 (Princess Ling Lung) Love interest of Ho Lei Turned into a Princess episode 20 Nicole Wong plays a young Yuen Yuet. She became a palace maid to search for her older sister, who had stopped sending her letters. Left the palace to be with Ho Lei and away from palace affairs in episode 36. |
| Steven Ma 馬浚偉 | Li Longji 李隆基 | Prince of Ping → Crown Prince → Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Tortured and killed Yuen Yuet's older sister after she was sent by Empress Dowager Wei to bring poisoned soup to Princess Taiping, events that took place before the start of series. |
| Kenneth Ma 馬國明 | Yam Sam-shu 任三恕 | Ex-boyfriend and former friend of Empress Wang Imperial guard general Subordinate of Li Longji Love interest of Kam Yeuk-chin Left the palace in episode 36 |
| Edwin Siu 蕭正楠 | Ho Lei 何離 | Imperial guard commander Subordinate of Yam Sam Shu and Li Longji Joined the Imperial guard to uncover the truth behind the massacre of the orphanage he was raised. Later revealed to be the unknown long lost brother of Li Longji and Li Chengqi who was sent away from the palace after his birth and death of his mother by Lady Cheung, Left the palace to be with Yuen Yuet and away from palace affairs in episode 36 Husband of Gan Wong Shun. |
| Alice Chan 陳煒 | Princess Taiping 太平公主 | Aunt of Li Longji / Emperor Xuanzong of Tang who fights for the throne with him, which then leads to a lot of palace scheming and power struggles. Tries to depose Emperor Xuanzong from the throne after many conflicts between them. Committed suicide by hanging herself using a white silk in her palace in episode 36. Main Villain |
Supporting cast
| Cast | Role | Description |
| Chrissie Chau 周秀娜 | Cheng Shunhei 鄭純熙 | An imperial concubine of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Rival of Empress Wang Niece of Princess Taiping from her first marriage Found out that she was pregnant on episode 28. In episode 31, she had a miscarriage was indirect cause by Empress Wang's scheme Died in suicide/poison attempt when she tries to poison Empress Wang along with herself in episode 34 |
| Jacqueline Wong 黃心穎 | Kam Yeuk-chin 甘若芊 | Palace maid Good friend of Yuen Yuet Love Interest of Yam Sam-syu Died in episode 33, murdered by Empress Wang when she accidentally found out her evil misdeeds toward Zheng Chunxi. |
| Susan Tse 謝雪心 | Lady Cheung 章尚宮 | Head of Palace Proceedings Supervisor of Lady Tsui, Lady Nam-kung, Lady Wong, and Lady Luk Retired as Head of Palace Proceedings in episode 36. |
| Candy Lo 羅霖 | Lady Tsui 徐相思 | Head of Jewellery She wears purple. Cousin of Lady Luk Left the palace in episode 36 with Lady Luk to start their own business. |
| Akina Hong 康華 | Lady Nam-kung 南宮琹 | Head of Furnishing. She wears blue. Left the palace in episode 36. |
| Angie Cheong 張慧儀 | Lady Luk 陸碧雲 | Head of Attire She wears orange . Cousin of Lady Tsui Left the palace in episode 36 with Lady Tsui to start their own business. |
| Pinky Cheung 張文慈 | Lady Wong 汪敏 | Head of Food. She wears green. Becoming Head of Palace Proceedings in episode 36. |
| Lee Lung Kei 李龍基 | Emperor Ruizong 唐睿宗 | Emperor Ruizong → Taishang Huang Father of Li Longji / Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and Li Chenqi / Pring of Song Older Brother of Princess Taiping Retired from court affairs in episode 36. |
| Rosanne Lui 呂珊 | Wong Fong Mei 王芳媚 | Consort of Emperor Ruizong → Consort Dowager Develops mental illness after an attempt on her life, later revealed to be a side effect of being poisoned by Yu Yin. Dies in episode 29 |
| Mary Hon 韩馬利 | Chou Yu Yin 周雨嫣 | Consort of Emperor Ruizong → Consort Dowager Resentment toward Emperor Ruizong for being abandoned by the royal family along with her daughter who died of illness develop during their exiled. Returned to the palace for revenge. Slowly poison Wong Fong Mei to her death after her assassination attempt. Killed by Emperor Ruizong in self-defense when she tries to assassinate him during her confession about her crimes and reason behind it in episode 31. |
Guest appearance
| Cast | Role | Description |
| Michelle Yim 米雪 | Empress Dowager Wei 韋后 | Empress Dowager Second wife of Emperor Zhongzong She wants to follow the examples of Wu Zetian to seize power. Killed by Li Longji in episode 1 during coup started by him and his Aunt, Princess Taiping Villain |
| Eric Li 李天翔 | Li Chengqi 李成器 | Prince of Song Older brother of Li Longji / Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Gave up the chance of becoming Crown prince to his younger brother, Li Longji Supports Emperor Xuanzong of Tang in trying to stop Princess Taiping's power from growing in the palace court. |
| Savio Tsang 曾偉權 | Mau Yau Kei 武攸暨 | Princess Taiping's second and current husband Executed by Emperor Ruizong when he willingly becomes the scapegoat for Princess Taiping's crime of abusing and torturing a palace maid for twenty years for personal reasons in episode 8. |
| Max Cheung 張達倫 | Sit Siu 薛紹 | First husband of Princess Taiping Deceased Executed twenty years ago for being claim as a conspirer of trying to starting a coup against Wu Zetian. |
| Mak Ling Ling 麥玲玲 | Kam Bat Wun 金畢妧 | The Gold Shop owner. |
| Louise Lee 李司棋 | Cheh Fung Yee 車鳳儀 | The Lady in charge of the Fishing shack at the lake |
Reception
The drama which features a new cast and story was widely compared to its indirect prequel Beyond the Realm of Conscience and received mainly mixed to negative reviews from audiences.
International broadcast
| Region | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|
 Malaysia | 8TV, TV2 | Dubbed in Mandarin (Mandarin Dubbing and Malay Subtitles on TV2) |
 Singapore | VV Drama | Dubbed With Mandarin |
 Cambodia | PNN TV | Dubbed With Khmer |
 USA | Disney Channel | Dubbed with English |
 Indonesia | RCTI | Dubbed with Bahasa Indonesia |
Awards and nominations
TVB Anniversary Awards 2018
| TVB Anniversary Awards 16 December 2018 | Nominees | Results |
|---|---|---|
| Best Drama | — | Nominated |
| Best Actor | Kenneth Ma | Nominated |
| Edwin Siu | Nominated | |
| Best Actress | Nancy Wu | Nominated |
| Alice Chan | Nominated | |
| Best Supporting Actor | Savio Tsang | Nominated |
| Best Supporting Actress | Jacqueline Wong | Nominated |
| Susan Tse | Nominated | |
| Akina Hong | Nominated | |
| Most Popular Female Character | Nancy Wu | Nominated |
| Alice Chan | Won | |
| Best Theme Song | Regretless (無悔無愧) by Nancy Wu | Nominated |
TVB Anniversary Gala 2018
| TVB Anniversary Gala 20 November 2018 | Nominees | Results |
|---|---|---|
| My TVB Favourite Actor (Singapore) | Steven Ma | Nominated |
| Kenneth Ma | Top 3 | |
| My TVB Favourite Actress (Singapore) | Nancy Wu | Top 3 |
| Alice Chan | Nominated | |
| My TVB Favourite Actor (Malaysia) | Steven Ma | Nominated |
| Kenneth Ma | Nominated | |
| My TVB Favourite Actress (Malaysia) | Nancy Wu | Top 3 |
| Alice Chan | Top 3 |
Golden Melody Award for Song of the Year
| Golden Melody Award for Song of the Year | Nominees | Results |
|---|---|---|
| Jade Music Award | Regretless (無悔無愧) by Nancy Wu | Won |